Question for Strongman Competitors

[Bodybygamma]

I always disagree with the term "rounded back", just because his back isn't overly upright doesn't make it rounded, if anything its sturdy and flat like it should be. To me this is a rounded back :

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Bodybygamma

That last image just took away all my current sexual drive. I believe all testosterone was flushed from my blood stream. I need to go look at breasts.

[CookAndrewB]

Well, we aren't talking about a pathology here, we are talking about natural ROM and function of the spine. We talk a lot about "not letting your back round" during a deadlift, and I agree, to a certain extent. There has to be spinal extention and flexion in a deadlift, what we don't want is for this movement to take place outside of willed muscular contraction.

If you lift and your back rounds out because you do not have the stability to hold a weight, that is bad. If you apply a large amount of force (jerking the bar off the ground, or possibly during a hitch) while the spinal erectors are not engaged (slack muscle trying to suddenly "catch" and stabilize a weight), that is bad. But a stabilized rounded back isn't bad, in and of itself. Anyone that has ever stone lifted can attest to the need to gain ROM by allowing curvature in the lumbar spine, unless you have some serious ape arms You simply can't lift a large ball from between your legs by squatting over it with a "flat back."

[Bodybygamma]

I still say giant traps LOL

[Jesse Polanco]

Originally Posted by Bodybygamma

I still say giant traps LOL

my dude my traps have gotten bigger although not noticeble when im in a shirt i blame the farmers walks

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Jesse Polanco

my dude my traps have gotten bigger although not noticeble when im in a shirt i blame the farmers walks

I would imagine that's the reason.

I see some guys doing the "slow, controlled" bodybuilding thing with traps. That really never did squat for me. The traps seem to thrive of intense, heavy weight. It almost seems you'd be better off doing static holds with 180's then doing shrugs with 80's....

[Jesse Polanco]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I would imagine that's the reason.

I see some guys doing the "slow, controlled" bodybuilding thing with traps. That really never did squat for me. The traps seem to thrive of intense, heavy weight. It almost seems you'd be better off doing static holds with 180's then doing shrugs with 80's....

static hold or walks with 270 each arm

you absolutely right powerclean and deadlifts did more for my traps then a shrug with 315 could have ever done

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Jesse Polanco

static hold or walks with 270 each arm

you absolutely right powerclean and deadlifts did more for my traps then a shrug with 315 could have ever done

I like power shrugs. But slow, controlled shrugs with heavy weight seem to be more of a test of grip strength for me.

And you're right, a farmer's walk is probably the king.

[Bodybygamma]

18inch rack pulls build massive traps, and for some reason behind the neck presses used to work pretty well.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Bodybygamma

18inch rack pulls build massive traps, and for some reason behind the neck presses used to work pretty well.

I can really feel traps on behind the neck presses.